The San Diego Chargers voted outside linebacker Jarret Johnson as one of their team captains for the 2014 season earlier this week. With Johnson entering his 12th NFL campaign, it's easy to see why.

"I think the biggest thing you learn from Jarret Johnson is how to be a professional," San Diego inside linebacker Donald Butler said. "He is a guy who comes in, works hard and leads. You can't ask for anything more out of him. He's a hard worker, and he leads not only in the weight room, but also the meeting room and also on the field."

A fourth-round draft choice out of Alabama way back in 2003, Johnson said that's what he's supposed to do.

"It's kind of my job," he said earlier in training camp. "The way I see it, I bring some stuff to the table. I was fortunate enough to have good players who taught me, and I feel like I'm doing younger players a disservice if I don't teach them."

Also chosen as one of the captains of the Chargers was quarterback Philip Rivers. Like the Crimson Tide's Johnson, Rivers has connections to the state of Alabama: The Decatur native played at Athens High School.

Johnson and Rivers are among the 100 state-connected players on NFL active rosters as the league kicks off its regular season on Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers visit the Seattle Seahawks.

An NFL team could be assembled entirely of state players, but it couldn't punt. Punter is the only position not represented on an NFL roster by a state player. It also would favor open formations, with only one tight end (New York Giants' Larry Donnell of Carroll Ozark) and one fullback (Houston Texans' Jay Prosch of UMS-Wright and Auburn). But it would be heavy on defensive players - 12 nose tackles and defensive tackles, 10 defensive ends, 12 linebackers and 26 defensive backs.

In addition to the 100 active players, the state also has eight players on the various reserve lists and 17 more on practice squads.

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At team-by-team breakdown of the state players in the NFL, with active players listed first, followed by reserve lists and practice squads (players are listed with their high school and/or college affiliations):